The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding the reporting requirements for missing, kidnapped, or runaway children by restructuring the timelines and processes for law enforcement agencies (LEAs). Under the new law, LEAs would be required to submit specific identifying information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) within 24 hours of receiving a report, rather than within two hours as currently mandated. Additionally, the bill introduces a requirement for LEAs to provide detailed information to appropriate media outlets and post on their official social media platforms within 24 hours, including a complete physical description of the child and the last known location. The bill also mandates that LEAs enter all required information into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System within 30 days of receiving a report.

Furthermore, the bill emphasizes the need for comprehensive training for LEA employees involved in missing children cases, requiring training to be conducted at the time of hire and once every two years, rather than biannually. It also prohibits characterizing a child as a runaway unless deemed necessary for safety or investigation purposes and allows LEAs to withhold information if it could interfere with locating the child or compromise safety. The bill includes provisions for documentation of decisions made regarding the dissemination of information, ensuring that LEAs maintain a clear record of their actions in these sensitive cases.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-901
Senate Engrossed Version: 8-901, 41-1728